HIGHWAY BLOCKED

Southland Times, Issue 22011, 10 May 1933, Page 6

HIGHWAY BLOCKED

FLOODS IN EASTERN DISTRICT. RESULT OF HEAVY RAINFALL. The fall of rain which commenced during the week-end and continued steadily on Monday was not so continuous in the Eastern District yesterday and subsided to fairly frequent showers with a clearer aspect towards evening. The rainfall in Gore for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. yesterday was ,78in, bringing the total for Sunday and Monday to 2.01 in. As a result of this very substantial rainfall, all low-lying parts of the Eastern District were well covered with surface water yesterday and the rivers were considerably higher than the previous day, although towards evening it was reported that in most cases the water was subsiding. The Invercargill-Dunedin highway was still completely blocked for motor traffic at McNab and Waipahi yesterday, and the only route by which through communication could be reached was via Maitland. Yesterday morning the train which was due to leave Gore for Waikaka at 5.30 was delayed until 8.45 on account of the line being covered at McNab. The express, consisting of the old carriages, went through without any difficulty in some inches of water and the Waikaka train followed shortly after. The water level across the main road was as high as four feet on Monday evening, but the water subsided steadily yesterday, although last evening it was still too deep for traffic to pass through. Water covered the main road from Invercargill in a number of places between there and Gore yesterday, there being about six inches of water across the bitumen in the vicinity of the Charlton railway station. Several residences in East Gore were threatened with an invasion of flood waters yesterday, there being a fair depth of water across the road at the Railway Esplanade and Halton street corners. The water came up into the gardens of three houses, but shortly after began to subside. The Waikaka river was in high flood all day yesterday and broke its . banks in a number of places. The Mataura river reached a maximum height of about six feet of flood but had subsided to a little above five feet late yesterday afternoon. The road on the east side of the river between Gore and Mataura was reported to be covered in places and the flood waters were stated to be fence high in parts. Flooding at Pukerau reached serious dimensions late on Monday night, thewater entering the house of Mr L. Miller shortly after midnight. Precautions had been taken by the occupants to protect the furnishings and linoleums had been taken up. The water reached a height when it could flow into the house and shortly after subsided. The water also entered the .bakehouse of the Mutual Stores, but no damage was done. The road at Pukerau was practically impassable for motor vehicles and a number had to be towed through. A culvert near the Ferndale school on the Clinton-Mataura road was washed out by the flood, waters yesterday and a warning has been issued to motorists to exercise all care in negotiating this section of the road.' At 1.30 o’clock yesterday afternoon, the Gore Post Office issued the following river report:— Gore.—South-west moderate breeze; cloudy with intermittent showers; river sft lin above normal. Waikaia.—Weather squally; river 2ft 6in above normal. Glenary.—River Ift 6in above normal level. Garston.—River falling; weather showery. ' ' ' The Waikaka river has fallen about Ift since 9 a.m, and is now about 3ft

above normal. Balfour.—River now 4ft 3in; overcast. THROUGH THE WATERS EXPRESS TRAIN DELAYED. EXPERIENCE OF MOTORISTS. The flooded condition of the countryside continued to cause trouble to travellers yesterday and as far as is known the main Invercargill—Dunedin highway was traversed by one car only during the day. The express from Christchurch was late in reaching Invercargill last evening owing to the flooded state of the country necessitating slow travelling on some sections of the line, and motorists reported flood waters in many parts of Southland. The Mataura River covered the road at the lower bridge on the Gorge Road —Fortrose highway by about a foot, and Mr T. Golden, of Fortrose, who motored to Invercargill yesterday morning to attend a meeting of the Southland Electric Power Board, stated that it was still rising. Mr G. A. Wraytt, of Garston, who also travelled to the city to attend the Power Board meeting, encountered flood water near Nokomai and one stream proved so deep that his car came to a standstill and had to be left on the road. Mr Z. Beri, of Christchurch, and three companions motored from Dunedin to Invercargill during the day and managed to win through on the main highway. after joining to grief at McNab. Mr Beri and his friends encountered water on the road on eight or nine occasions between Waipahi and Gore, the first patch, being about 18 inches deep and" 50 yards long. There was deeper water near McNab, and the car got through with difficulty. The deepest stretch of water was at McNab where the flooded state of the countryside hid the course of the road and the car finally left the road and stopped in about four feet of water. The travellers settled down to wait for some assistance and about half an hour later a truck appeared on the scene. They were able to direct it along the roadway and were eventually towed put. of the water and in to Gore, where the engine was restored to its normal condition for the completion of the journey to Invercargill. Mr Beri stated that the water appeared to be receding very slowly.